New Delhi, Oct. 21 -- Thousands of motorists were allowed free passage on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Fatehabad district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday after workers, angered by a low Diwali bonus, staged a protest and lifted all the toll barriers.

The action caused significant disruption to toll services and traffic flow, requiring the intervention of police to restore order.

The dispute arose when 21 staff members at the Fatehabad toll plaza, which is managed by the firm Shri Sign & Datar, expressed dismay at receiving a Diwali bonus of only Rs.1,100.

The company, which assumed management of the toll operation in March of this year, has encountered difficulties and disputes concerning the calculation and distribution of bonuses.

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